Knight News awards to recognize serious games, zombies
by Jason Dobson 
on May 25th 2009 1:30PM
We weren't sure what to expect when we rolled up to the first annual Knight News Game Awards, wearing our finest armor and eager to graciously accept our much-deserved award for sharpest swords. It turns out the ceremony, named for its sponsor -- the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation -- is designed instead to recognize a new genre of games, namely those that are "journalistic and enhance people's ability to make decisions in a democracy." Boy, were our faces red, not that you could tell beneath our newly-polished helmets.
The awards presentation is set to kick off as part of the
Games for Change Festival this week, which runs from May 27-29 in New York City. Event organizers today announced the finalists for the awards, which include a handful of
socially-conscious games including
Hurricane Katrina: Tempest in Crescent City,
Play the News and the controversial
September 12th – A Toy World. Our pick:
The Budget Maze, where players navigate a dungeon while quizzing zombies on city or state budget processes. Who better to consult on financial planning than the undead?
